Lak Wak Tu Neng (Tracking Love) premiered online on 21st March 2022 for a 2-day screening in conjunction with the International Day of Forests. It was followed by a 112-minute Q&A session moderated by Dr Serina Rahman, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and assisted by Grace Chin. The panel comprised Roslan bin Carang and Marisan A/K Pandak of Kampung Chuweh and Noordin bin Asu of Kampung Sungai Tiang; Yeap Chin Aik, co-founder of the MNS Hornbill Conservation Project who is also a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Hornbill Specialist Group and Helmeted Hornbill Working Group; and HY Leong, the filmmaker.

Synopsis

In Peninsular Malaysia, at the start of the breeding season, indigenous trackers set off on foot for hours in the Temenggor Forest Reserve tracking hornbill breeding signs to get to the love nests before the poachers and loggers do.

The forest reserve in Hulu Perak is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) with 10 hornbill species of which eight are globally threatened. The most critical is the Helmeted Hornbill.

While Azam Carang and Marisan Pandak team up to scour the lush and dense forests, Roslan Carang is teaching his son Dedi on the job. Dedi is the youngest of the Hornbill Guardians but he is just as passionate knowing what is at stake – without the hornbills the indigenous peoples’ livelihood is in jeopardy.

Watch the trailer here.
Watch the full documentary here. [from 9th August, 2022 in conjunction with International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples]

Year of Production: 2022
Duration: 28 minutes
Country of Film: Malaysia
Languages of Film: Jahai, Temiar, Malay and English
Subtitle Languages: English and Malay
Filmmaker: HY Leong/Factual TV Sdn Bhd

Produced as part of the “Trees for the Future: Safeguarding the Central Forest Spine” project, with support of the Rainforest Journalism Fund in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. The screening on Cloud Theatre was supported by Factual TV Sdn Bhd in aid of the indigenous livelihoods of the Malaysian Nature Society Hornbill Conservation Project.